Research papers require more than reporting existing information—note that your sources did not answer the research question for you—they require you to synthesize your source material into a coherent argument.

In order to develop that effective argument, you need to weave your sources together. A series of source reports, or a series of paragraphs using only one source each, does not develop your credibility as an author. A series of source reports indicates that you do not understand your sources or how those sources fit into the larger picture, and it implies that you did not do enough research.

The following exercise is designed to help you see how you’ve used sources and where your research paper needs more source variety.

Rainbow Revisions: Creating Source Variety

Number the hard copies of your sources 1, 2, 3, and so on.

With your yellow highlighter, highlight any material borrowed from source #1. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

With your blue pencil or fine marker, underline any material borrowed from source #2. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

With your red pencil or fine marker, underline any material borrowed from source #3. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

With your green pencil or fine marker, underline any material borrowed from source #4. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

With another color of your choice, underline any material borrowed from source #5. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

With a purple pencil or fine marker, underline any material borrowed from source #6. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

With a brown pencil or fine marker, underline any material borrowed from source #7. Then go to your paper and highlight that material in your paper.

Continue until you’ve marked material from all your sources on the original and in your paper.

If you don’t see a rainbow on your paper, your sources need more interweaving. Revise!

Complete another rainbow revision on the final draft before you submit it. Papers without color coded sources will not be accepted.